By Anne W. Semmes
Just how a town can come together to green its public spaces with trees was plain to see last Friday at a gathering of some 55 Town Greenwich officials and nonprofit leaders in the Barn at the Greenwich Historical Society. The occasion was a “Goodbye” arranged by the Greenwich Tree Conservancy (GTC) for its long-serving executive director JoAnn Messina, retiring after 17 years from the inception of the GTC, during which 6,000 trees were added to the Town.
“If you work closely with JoAnn, you come to understand the level of her commitment to the Greenwich Tree Conservancy and what that means,” kicked off Urling Searle, GTC President. “She understands proper process and procedure which has enabled this organization to make good decisions the last 17 years.”
Searle read comments from those unable to attend the event like Eric Hammerling, from DEEP, “I think the world of JoAnn. And the trees of Greenwich will undoubtedly feel her loss.” But he was pleased to learn she “was going to stay close,” as she will serve on GTC’s Advisory Board. “JoAnn is not retiring,” confirmed GTC Founder and Board Chair Peter Malkin who was present. He likened working alongside Messina as, “17 years have been like 17 hours.”
“We got to get the whole group from the Greenwich League of Women Voters to run things here,” Malkin recalled of its outset. “And so, Cheryl Dunson and JoAnn organized me. And we have a very good board, but a board is only as good as its director. And I don’t think it’s retirement. I think it’s just a time for JoAnn to smell the flowers.”
Searle then shared GTC’s gift to Messina. “We are very pleased and excited to announce that we are going to be planting one large specimen type tree and 17 trees in a grove that will be dedicated to you, JoAnn.”
The gathering was then joined by First Selectman Fred Camillo arriving with his framed “Town of Greenwich Certificate of Special Recognition” of Messina, “In honor of her having served as founding Executive Director of The Greenwich Tree Conservancy for 17 years and for setting an inspiring example for exemplary community this 19th day of January 2024.”
“It’s been great working with you,” said Camillo. “You started in 2007. You were a great advocate when Livvy Floren [also present] and I were in the state legislature. When I put in a bill one time about dead, diseased, and dying trees, the first email I got was from you…Thanks for all you’ve done here. We love a lot of things about our beautiful town. Trees are certainly a part of that.”
Messina then seized the moment with “I’m going to do something that one should never do, and that is to speak about people individually.” She addressed Town Tree Warden Greg Kramer, present. “It’s been such a wonderful partnership to work with Greg and how well we were able to do what we were able to do…And Greg has been instrumental over the last several years in making sure we hit the 500 trees planting mark each year.”
Next up in the crowd was Margarita Alban. “For those of you who may not know her, she’s extraordinary,” said Messina. “She is the chair of our Planning and Zoning Commission, and she has done amazing work for trees. When we started working with Planning and Zoning, they didn’t know what the tree was. They didn’t have a definition of a tree. They didn’t understand why trees should be on anything when they were coming with an application. They understand now what a tree is, but the entire commission under her incredible direction has been so incredibly supportive of trees, of how important tree canopy is in this town.”
“And in doing that, “Messina added, Margarita got the able assistance of [Town Planner] Patrick LaRow, who is helping again to get our Route 1 trees, which I will not die until those Route 1 trees are planted.”
Messina then listed the support of present John Conte, “almost from our inception,” as vice chair of the Architecture Review Committee, and Sarah Coccaro, the Town’s assistant environmental affairs director, “the rockstar of Town Hall. From the moment she stepped into town, she was doing amazing things. She has been instrumental in the Greenscape Committee of which I’ve been a part with Planning and Zoning and with John Conte. And for any of you who don’t know Francia Alvarez, our Advocacy Chair, she’s done amazing work in town and will continue with that work, I hope, for many years. And I will also be assisting with the advocacy.”
And thanks to Jim Michel, DPW Deputy Commissioner present, shared Messina, “We recently got trees planted in Byram, which we were working on for years, and we continue to work. And I said to Jim, ‘I’m not going away, so I’ll still be making those calls. Maybe it’s as a private citizen, but I’ll still be making those calls.’”
Citing more of those partnerships, Messina thanked present Debra Mecky, executive director of the Greenwich Historical Society. “We’ve done a lot of programs together, and they’ve been extraordinary, and I really appreciate that.” Malkin added his thanks to Mecky for GHS hosting the gathering. “We’re just delighted that the Barn is put to such good use and that there’s such a good relationship between the Tree Conservancy and the Historical Society.”
Finally, Messina pointed to two women in the group she cited as “close friends,” Bea Crumbine and Livvy Floren. “These two women adore my daughter almost as much as I do – and they came from a different political direction than me and that’s never stopped us in any way.” She recalled first meeting Crumbine’s late husband Peter. “I disagreed with everything he said,” she shared, “but Peter became that person who I judged myself on.”
Lastly, she looked toward Isabel and Peter Malkin. “They have both been incredible, supportive people, both professionally, both personally…And I’m really, really happy that you’re here. And I want to share a quote by Margaret Mead: “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.”
